IceHogs News

Rockford Ill. – By reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks are guaranteed to pick either number 29 or 30 in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft.

Today IceHogs.com is looking back in time through the last 20 years at every player selected at the 29th overall slot during that time period and will give a look at their most recent accomplishments to date.

In last year’s draft, the Blackhawks selected forward Teuvo Teravainen out of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga) with the 18th overall selection. This past season, the 18 year old prospect played his second campaign overseas for the Finnish team Jokerit Helsinki, continuing his development.

Out of all the players selected at the 29th overall spot over the past 20 years, they have averaged 160 appearances in NHL regular season games. Skaters that have been selected at that spot over that time period have averaged 70 points (28g-42a) in their careers so far. The most popular position selected at number 29 has been RW with seven of the selections playing that position. Overall, all but one of the 21 players selected from 2012-1992 have played in the NHL.

Out of all the players selected at the 30th overall spot over the past 20 years, they have averaged 103 appearances in NHL regular season games. Skaters that have been selected at that spot over that time period have averaged 28 points (11g-17a) in their careers so far. The most popular position selected at number 30 has been Defense with double the amount of players selected (12) than the next most popular position picked; Center (6). Overall, 17 of the 21 players selected from 2012-1992 have played in the NHL.

The following are the players over the last 20 years to be picked in the 29th and 30th slots in the NHL Draft.

29th Overall NHL Entry Draft picks:2012: Stefan Matteau (F) New Jersey Devils – Matteau played in 35 regular season games and recorded 18 goals and 11 assists for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL in 2012-13. He also appeared in 11 playoff contests for them and tallied three goals and six assists. The Chicago native then made his professional debut and joined the Devils for 17 games registering three points. He was one of six first round picks from 2012 to receive playing time in the NHL last season.

2011:Niklas Jensen (RW) Vancouver Canucks – Last season, Jensen played in 50 contests with AIK of the Swedish Elite League (SEL) and tallied 23 points (17g-6a) on the season. He also recorded four points in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves and appeared in two games with the Canucks. Jensen was a teammate of Blackhawks prospect Joakim Nordstrom.

2010:Emerson Etem (C) Anaheim Ducks – This past season, Etem got a good look at both the AHL and NHL. He played in 45 contests with the Norfolk Admirals and 38 with the Anaheim Ducks. He recorded 16 points with the Admirals (13g-3a) and 10 points with the Ducks (3g-7a). Etem also appeared in all seven of Anaheim’s playoff games against the Detroit Red Wings scoring three goals and two assists.

2009:Carter Ashton (RW) Tampa Bay Lightning – After being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in early 2012, Ashton finished the season with 15 appearances with the Maple Leafs and 13 with the Toronto Marlies, six coming in the playoffs. Last season, he spent his time on the Marlies roster, playing in 53 contests and recording 19 points (11g-8a). He also made appearances in nine of the Marlies’ playoff games and tallied nine points.

2008:Daultan Leveille (C) Atlanta Thrashers – After finishing his four years of playing at Michigan State in the 2011-12 season, Leveille became an unrestricted free agent in August 2012. He signed a one year two-way deal with the Montreal Canadiens in September 2012. He did a lot of jumping around between teams the rest of the season. In all, Leveille played in 31 ECHL contests in split time between the San Francisco Bulls and Wheeling Nailers. He also made appearances in 19 games with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

2007: Jim O’Brien (C) Ottawa Senators – He appeared in 29 games with the Senators in the 2012-13 season. In those games, he tallied six points (5g-1a). In all, O’Brien has appeared in 63 career NHL games with Ottawa.
2006:Chris Summers (D) Phoenix Coyotes – Summers played in 60 games for the Portland Pirates in 2012-13, scoring two goals and 10 assists on the season. He also appeared in six regular season and three post-season contests. Summers has played 29 career NHL games while splitting the rest of his pro career in the AHL.

2005:Steve Downie (RW) Philadelphia Flyers – In his career so far, Downie has played in 274 NHL games and has recorded 138 points (55g-83a) for the Flyers, Lightning, and Avalanche. This past season, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Avalanche but only played in two games because of a knee injury.
2004: Mike Green (D) Washington Capitals – Green played in 35 regular season games and all seven playoff games for the Capitals this past season. He has played in a total of 433 NHL regular season (94g-183a-277points) and 57 post-season games for the Capitals since being drafted.

2003:Patrick Eaves (RW) Ottawa Senators – Since being drafted, Eaves has played in 414 NHL games for the Senators, Hurricanes and Red Wings. He appeared in 34 games for the Red Wings last season after needing to be cleared to play because of symptoms caused by a concussion that kept him off the ice for the majority of the 2011-12 season.

2002:Hannu Toivonen (G) Boston Bruins – Since Playing for the IceHogs in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, Toivonen has only made one more squad in the USA, that being the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. He appeared in 11 contests with the Solar Bears and spent the rest of his time with SaiPa Lappeenranta of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga) where he made eight appearances and had a record of 2-4-2 and a save percentage of .900. In the NHL, Toivonen played in a combined 61 games for the St. Louis Blues and the Bruins. He boasted a record of 18-24-10 with a save percentage of .889 in those games.

2001: Adam Munro (G) Chicago Blackhawks – Munro’s last stint in American professional hockey was during the 2009-10 season with the Toronto Marlies. This past year, he completed his second season with Szekeshfehervar Alba Volan HC of the Austrian Hockey League. Munro made 17 appearances with the Blackhawks going 4-10-3.

2000:Niklas Kronwall (D) Detroit Red Wings – Since being drafted, Kronwall has played in 515 games with the Red Wings. Last year, he appeared in 48 regular season games and all 14 post-season contests. In the nine years he has been on the Red Wings’ roster, Kronwall has racked up 246 points (54g-192a).

1999:Michal Sivek (C) Washington Capitals – 2007-08 was the last season Sivek played professional hockey. He had one stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2002-03 after being traded from Washington in 2001. He played 38 games in the NHL and recorded six points (3g-3a). In his last year, Sivek completed his 8th season with Sparta Praha of the Czech Republic League.

1998: Jonathan Cheechoo (RW) San Jose Sharks – Cheechoo played in 35 regular season and 17 post-season games for the Oklahoma City Barons last season. He recorded 32 points (13g-19a) for the Barons. He has played in 501 NHL games and has tallied 305 points (170g-135a). In 2005-06 he was awarded the Maurice Richard Trophy for ending that campaign as the league’s leading goal scorer.

1997:Scott Barney (RW) Los Angeles Kings – Barney last played hockey in 2011-12 for HP Hameenlinna of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga). He made appearances in 27 NHL games for the Los Angeles Kings and the Atlanta Thrashers. In those games, he recorded 11 points (5g-6a).

1996:Dan LaCouture (LW) New York Islanders – LaCouture last played in 2009-10 with the Providence Bruins. He played in nine games and scored one goal for the Bruins. The Hyannis, Massachusetts native played in 337 NHL games for six different teams in his career. In those games he recorded 45 points (20g-25a).
1995:Brian Wesenberg (RW) Anaheim Mighty Ducks – Wesenberg retired after the 2000-01 season. During that season he played for the Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL and the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL. Throughout his six year professional career, Wesenberg played one game in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1998-99 season.

1994: Stanislav Neckar (D) Ottawa Senators – In Neckar’s 13 year career, he appeared in 510 NHL games for five different teams and tallied 53 points (12g-41a). In his final season, Neckar played in 36 games for Sodertalje SK of the Swedish Elite League (SEL) and totaled three assists on the year.

1993: Tyler Moss (G) Tampa Bay Lightning – During his 16 year professional career, Moss appeared in 30 NHL games with the Flames, Hurricanes and Canucks. Moss retired after the 2011-12 season in which he played in eight games for the Nuermburg Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

1992: Tuomas Gronman(D) Quebec Nordiques – The Viitasaari, Finland native played 10 years of professional hockey. During that time he played in 38 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. He totaled four points (1g-3a) in those games. Gronman finished his career with TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga) in 2002-03.

30th Overall NHL Entry Draft Picks:2012: Tanner Pearson (LW) Los Angeles Kings – Pearson spent the entire 2012-13 regular season with the Manchester Monarchs. With them, he played in 64 tilts recording 47 points (19g-28a). He also made appearances in four Monarchs playoff games and one L.A. Kings playoff game.

2011:Rickard Rakell (C) Anaheim Ducks – Rakell finished his third season with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL this past season. He played in 40 games with the Whalers and tallied 44 points (21g-23a). The Sollentuna, Sweden native also appeared in four games for the Ducks.

2010: Brock Nelson (C) New York Islanders – The Minneapolis, Minnesota native played in 66 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season. He recorded 52 points (25g-27a) on the season. Nelson also made his NHL debut when he appeared in one playoff game for the Islanders.
2009:Simon Despres (D) Pittsburgh Penguins – Despres split time between Pittsburgh and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this past year. He played in 33 tilts for Pittsburgh and 27 for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Also, he appeared in three postseason games for Pittsburgh. He has recorded 11 points (3g-8a) in 51 NHL games since being drafted.

2008:Thomas McCollum (G) Detroit Red Wings – McCollum spent last season on the Grand Rapids Griffins roster, appearing in 31 contests. He achieved an 18-11-2 record and had a .904 save percentage. McCollum has made one appearance with the Red Wings.

2007: Nick Ross (D) Phoenix Coyotes – Ross played for Salzburg EC from the Austrian Hockey League and the Augsburg Panthers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 2012-13. He played a combined 33 games for those teams and tallied 13 points (3g-10a). His last stint in American professional hockey was in 2011-12 with the Portland Pirates. He has not appeared in any NHL games in his career.

2006:Matt Corrente (D) New Jersey Devils – Corrente missed the majority of this past season because of injury and required surgery. He appeared in 11 games this season with the Albany Devils. The Mississauga, Ontario native has played in 34 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and has recorded six assists so far in his NHL career.

2005:Vladimir Mihalik (D) Tampa Bay Lightning – The last time that Mihalik has played professional hockey in North America was in the 2010-11 season with the Norfolk Admirals. He finished out last season playing overseas for Bratislava Slovan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He played in 15 games and scored two goals in regular season play. Mihalik also played four games in the post-season and scored another goal.

2004:Andy Rogers (D) Tampa Bay Lightning – Rogers last played in the 2009-10 season for the Toronto Marlies and the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL. He appeared in six contests with the Marlies and 11 games with the Salmon Kings, registering one assist. He never played in an NHL game during his five year career.
2003:Shawn Belle (D) St. Louis Blues – Belle played this past season overseas for the Mannheim Eagles of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He appeared in 42 regular season and nine post-season games for the Eagles and recorded nine points (2g-7a). Belle has played 20 NHL games in his career so far with four different teams. Out of those games he has tallied one assist.

2002: Jim Slater (C) Atlanta Thrashers – The Petosky, Michigan native played in 26 games last season for the Winnipeg Jets. In his career, he has played in 475 NHL games with both the Thrashers and the Jets and has tallied 123 points (61g-62a).

2001:Dave Steckel (C) Los Angeles Kings – The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks last season. He played in a combined 34 games last season and recorded seven points (1g-6a). Steckel also played with the Ducks in all seven of their playoff games this past year. He has played in a total of 419 NHL games for four different teams since being drafted.

2000: Jeff Taffe (C) St. Louis Blues – Taffe has played in 180 NHL games for seven different teams. He has recorded a combined 46 points (21g-25a). His latest NHL stint was with the Minnesota Wild in 2011-12. He finished last season with the Hersey Bears playing in 73 regular season and five post-season games. Taffe tallied 71 points this past season (18g-53a) and was ranked 2nd in the AHL for points. The Center played for Rockford in the 2010-11 season.

1999: Luke Sellars (D) Atlanta Thrashers – Sellars last played in the 2009-10 season for the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League (CHL). He played in one career NHL game with the Thrashers in the 2001-02 season.

1998: Kyle Rossiter (D) Florida Panthers – Rossiter played in 11 total NHL games during his six year career, all of which were for the Panthers. He ended his career overseas with KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League.

1997: Jean-Marc Pelletier (G) Philadelphia Flyers – Pelletier played in seven NHL games in his 12 year career with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes. He spent the last four years of his career overseas with the Mannheim Eagles and the Hamburg Freezers of the DEL.

1996: Josh Green (C) Los Angeles Kings – Green finished up this season playing for the Oklahoma City Barons. He appeared in 49 regular season games and 17 post-season games for the Barons. In his 16 year career, Green has played in 341 NHL games for eight different teams and has recorded a combined 76 points (36g-40a) in those games.

1995:Mike McBain (D) Tampa Bay Lightning - McBain appeared in 64 NHL games in his career and tallied seven assists in those games. He finished out his career playing with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL for five seasons.

1994:Deron Quint (D) Winnipeg Jets – Quint completed his 18th professional hockey season this past year. Besides a five game stint with the New York Islanders in 2006-07, Quint has played the last nine seasons overseas with various teams and leagues. The Durham, New Hampshire native has played in 463 NHL games with six different teams.

1993:Nikolai Tsulygin (D) Anaheim Mighty Ducks – Tsulygin’s reign in North American hockey was short lived. He played in 22 NHL games with the Mighty Ducks. He then split time with different teams in the AHL and IHL the next two years before heading back to his home country of Russia. This is where he played for the remaining nine years of his career.

1992:Chris O’Sullivan (D) Calgary Flames – O’Sullivan played in a total of 62 NHL games with the Flames, Canucks, and Mighty Ducks. The Dorchester, Massachusetts native tallied a combined 19 points (2g-17a) over his career.

Check out IceHogs.com all week as we preview the 2013 NHL Entry DraftMonday, June 24th: Draft Breakdown at Blackhawks pick
Tuesday, June 25th: Mock Drafts
Wednesday, June 26th: Breakdown of the Blackhawks first overall picks over the past 10 years
Thursday, June 27th: Draft Impact on the IceHogs
Friday, June 28th: An update on the progress of all of Chicago’s draft picks from the 2011 and 2012 drafts

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